Putin proposes several new candidates for Audit Chamber team

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has presented to the State Duma the candidature of Tatiana Golikova for appointment Head of Audit Chamber, as reported by Kremlin's press service on Monday. Vladimir Putin has also presented to the Federation Council the candidature of Vera Chistova for considering her appointment deputy head of Russia’s Audit Chamber. Earlier, the current Head of the Audit Chamber Sergei Stepashin denied reports that he would leave his post. "There hasn't been made any decision yet," he told Itar-Tass. He also didn't confirm media reports that the Court of Auditors may be lead by presidential aide Golikova. According to Stepashin, there hasn't been any decision and 'everyone remains at his post'. In July 2013, the State Duma Council submitted to President Vladimir Putin the candidacies of Chairman of the Audit Chamber Sergey Stepashin, Presidential Aide Tatyana Golikova and Head of the Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes Andrei Makarov to head the controlling department. In late August, a number of media outlets citing sources reported that Putin approved Golikova and made a submission to the State Duma on her new appointment. However, the State Duma assured that it hasn't received any submissions on the appointment of Golikova or other candidates for the post of Head of the Audit Chamber of Russia yet. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov also denied reports that a decision on the matter has already been taken. The current Chairman of the Audit Chamber Sergey Stepashin heads it since 2000. The new team of the Chamber should be formed before 1 October 2013.